Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director – Economy and Regeneration

Purpose of report

To gain approval from the Executive, following the recent Ministerial Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Review (and co-incident with the formal separation between CDC and SNC), that Cherwell District Council (CDC) should leave the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) and should only, from 1 April 2019, be part of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

 1.1        Note the contents of this report and key developments relating to the recent Ministerial LEP Review.

1.2         Approve leaving SEMLEP by 1 April 2019, hence removing the geographical overlap where CDC is a member of both SEMLEP and OxLEP.

1.3         Note that, to assist with the transitional process, the Leader of CDC will remain on the Board of SEMLEP in his capacity as Chair of the Cross Corridor (Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge) Leaders’ Group as observer after the April 2019 changes take place.

1.4         Note that CDC will continue as a full and active member (with board representation) of OxLEP.

Resolved

(1)           That the contents of the report and key developments relating to the recent Ministerial Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Review be noted.

(2)           That approval be given to Cherwell District Council (CDC) leaving South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) by 1 April 2019, hence removing the geographical overlap where CDC is a member of both SEMLEP and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

(3)           That it be noted that, to assist with the transitional process, the Leader of CDC will remain on the Board of SEMLEP in his capacity as Chair of the Cross Corridor (Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge) Leaders’ Group as observer after the April 2019 changes take place.

(4)           That it be noted that CDC will continue as a full and active member (with board representation) of OxLEP.

The Assistant Director – Economy and Regeneration submitted a report to gain approval from the Executive, following the recent Ministerial Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Review (and co-incident with the formal separation between CDC and SNC), that Cherwell District Council (CDC) should leave the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) and should only, from 1 April 2019, be part of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

Resolved

(1)           That the contents of the report and key developments relating to the recent Ministerial Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Review be noted.

(2)           That approval be given to Cherwell District Council (CDC) leaving South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) by 1 April 2019, hence removing the geographical overlap where CDC is a member of both SEMLEP and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

(3)           That it be noted that, to assist with the transitional process, the Leader of CDC will remain on the Board of SEMLEP in his capacity as Chair of the Cross Corridor (Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge) Leaders’ Group as observer after the April 2019 changes take place.

(4)           That it be noted that CDC will continue as a full and active member (with board representation) of OxLEP.

Reasons

Over recent months, there has been a Ministerial Review of all 38 of the UK’s Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). The Review called for a number of changes to LEPs, which included the: Removal of geographical overlaps; Consolidation of geographical focus, including consideration of LEP mergers; and, Improvement of diversity of board membership.

It is a good idea for CDC to withdraw for SEMLEP and focus upon their membership of OxLEP. The decision is a sad one but also aligns with the changing circumstances related to local government reorganisation.

There are a number of potential implications and risks associated with the move which appear to be manageable and it seems the benefits, especially to the local business community outweigh the risks.

Alternative options

Option 1: There is one alternative option identified and this is to stay as we are (with CDC remaining a member of both OxLEP and SEMLEP). This is rejected for two reasons: Firstly, the Ministerial Review was looking to eliminate geographical overlaps and there was an incidence of this with Cherwell. Secondly, due to local government reorganisation the joint working and formal link to Northamptonshire has been removed.